Placental development

Sandhya saji
VMMC & SJH
Tutor
Placenta is a fetomaternal organ that has two components:
A fetal portion that develops from a portion of chorionic sac, called
chorionic frondosum.
A maternal portion that is derived from a portion of endometrium,
called decidua basalis.
 The placenta begins to develop upon implantation of the blastocyst
into the maternal endometrium.
Placenta grows throughout pregnancy.
Development of the maternal blood supply to the placenta is
complete by the end of the first trimester of pregnancy
(approximately 1213 weeks).
 Embryoblast forms the embryo proper
Trophoblast forms the placenta and associated
membranes.
Development of placenta starts as soon as blastocyst is
attached to the endometrium.
Trophoblasts start proliferating rapidly and differentiate into two layers:
Cytotrophoblast or cellular trophoblast
Syncytial trophoblast (syncytiotrophoblast)
Lacunar Stage. Ninth-Day


Development of Chorionic Villi
 Meanwhile, the cytotrophoblastic cells in the villi penetrate
progressively into the overlying syncytial trophoblast until
they reach maternal endometrium. Here they establish
contact with similar extensions of neighboring villous stems,
thus forming a thin outer cytotrophoblast shell.

This shell gradually surrounds the trophoblast entirely.

Cytotrophoblastic shell attaches chorionic sac to

endometrial tissue.
 Stem Villi
Villi that are attached to the maternal tissues via
cytotrophoblastic shell are called stem villi or anchoring villi.

Floating Villi
The villi that branch from stem villi and float free in
intervillous space are called branching villi or floating villi.
These villi are not attached to maternal tissue.
 21 day

A section of chorionic sac showing two stem villi.


The developing fetus during 11th week
of intrauterine life.
 Surfaces:
* Foetal surface: smooth, glistening and is covered by
the amnion which is reflected on the cord. The
umbilical cord is inserted near or at the center of this
surface and its radiating branches can be seen beneath
the amnion.
* Maternal surface: dull greyish red in colour and is
divided into 15-20 cotyledons. Each cotyledon is
formed of the branches of one main villus stem
covered by decidua basalis.